Emotions and Regulation
Feelings are part of everyday life.
Your child may find it difficult to recognise what they are feeling, communicate it, wait for something they want, cope when plans do not go as expected, or find a way to settle after becoming overwhelmed.
The aim is not to stop emotions.
It is to help your child understand what is happening, communicate what they need and gradually build ways to manage difficult moments.
What are you working on?
Recognising Emotions
Help your child notice and identify feelings in themselves and others.
Big Feelings
Support moments when emotions become intense, overwhelming or difficult to communicate.
Calming and Regulating
Explore practical ways to help your child find strategies that support regulation.
Waiting
Make waiting clearer by showing what is happening, how long it may last and what comes next.
Turn Taking
Help make shared activities and taking turns more understandable and predictable.
Handling Disappointment
Support your child when something they expected, wanted or hoped for cannot happen.
Start with the moment, not the label
You do not need to decide exactly what your child is feeling before you can offer support.
Start by noticing:
What happened? What seems difficult? What might help right now?
That might mean giving more time, using fewer words, showing what happens next, offering a break or helping your child communicate what they need.
Regulation is not about making feelings disappear. It is about having support to move through them.
Support before perfection
Children learn about feelings and regulation gradually.
Notice what helps.
Keep useful supports familiar.
Adjust when something is not working.